A Greater Vernon jurisdiction is being accused of playing games at the expense of residents. The City of Vernon has been asked by the District of Coldstream to consider re-establishing the former commission model where Greater Vernon participants had delegated authority to deal directly with parks, recreation, culture and water. “The focus from Coldstream should be the college property,” said Vernon Coun. Patrick Nicol of plans for a sports complex. “Hundreds of things pass unanimously (at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee) for the benefit of all Greater Vernon and the focus is off base on this.” Coldstream has suggested that a commission be initiated to administer water, parks, recreation, culture, the Performing Arts Centre and Wesbild Centre. The commission had delegated authority, which meant that it could make decisions on some matters without going to the North Okanagan Regional District board. “It’s just like deja vu,” said Mary-Jo O’Keefe, a Vernon councillor, of Coldstream’s proposal. The commission was disbanded in 2006 and it was replaced by an advisory committee, which can only make recommendations to the NORD board. “Coldstream and Areas B and C voted to get rid of this,” said Lippert of the commission. Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick isn’t sure what a sports complex next to the college has to do with governance. “The college is one single issue and the bigger picture is the foundation we follow at NORD,” he said. “They (city) have said a commission should be brought back. We could be in a better place with this model.” Garlick doesn’t believe sufficient information was available when NORD directors voted to disband the commission. “Knowing more, it wasn’t the right decision to repeal it,” he said. Lippert is going to Victoria May 5 to meet with Ida Chong about reviews of regional district services such as parks and recreation. “This has been bouncing back and forth,” said Lippert. “The province needs to put a timeline on these things. Some of the reviews have been going on for five years.” Garlick agrees with Lippert’s concerns. “The legislation is incomplete and there are lots of holes. Something has to be done about it,” he said.
2 comments:
Oh Wayne, just ask Ida to settle it once and for all with one big Okanagan Regional District.
Vernon is such a big fish in NORD? Now you can get in line after Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton...
Hey Morningstar fact-checker, that commission was dissolved in 2008, not 2006. Not that you'd find much evidence of any discussion whatsoever in the meeting records of the day.
It seems the information provided to the politicians, even today, is still insufficient.
So here's some more food for thought:
A separate Parks commission for those areas that wish to participate. Don't want to participate? Don't expect other jurisdictions to help you pay for your facilities, programs, etc. Want to be a contractor to this commission? Then start acting like one. Contractors do not call the shots.
A separate Water commission, with representation from all GVWU customers: Vernon, Coldstream, Areas B, C, D, and Spallumcheen . Add in the Ag rep and a Business rep to round out this commission's membership.
All of this would go a long ways to removing the spectre of "Greater Vernon", once and for all.
Let's get these politicians back to what they are supposed to do: collective decision-making for the good of our community.
The "food for thought" does not have any merit and would not solve any of the problems. Should a council,or a regional district or a commission have a representative from business and one from agriculture-who would appoint them and what about elections-would your blogger do away with them? Spall has no investment in our water system-they are just a customer-we don`t need Hansma complicating things
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